All about growing global citizens.
What are Round Square Schools?
Round Square schools are an international network of like-minded schools focusing on character education and academic success for kids aged 3–18. The Round Square philosophy believes that global citizenship needs more than academics. Through experiential learning and 6 core themes, this is a platform for future leaders and changemakers.
Round Square Schools is a school system that tries to promote understanding and respect for diversity while helping to prepare young people for their future. It offers opportunities that require courage, generosity, imagination, and resilience through service-based projects, active participation in classroom governance, and adventure programs.
Most students value equality and learn about other cultures through international project collaboration. They also learn about leadership through service projects like renovating a community building or planting trees. This network of schools aims to create students who care about their environmental impact and the state of our world through international service initiatives and student exchange.
There are more than 200 Round Square schools in 50 countries worldwide, all working to create an empowered and empathetic generation of young people.
A brief history of Round Square Schools
Round Square schools are based on the principles of German educator Kurt Hahn. He founded the 2 original member schools, Schule Schloss in Salem, Germany, in 1920 and Prince Max of Baden in Gordonstoun, Scotland, in 1934. Hahn believed that students could understand life better by experiencing it and facing challenges. This helps them to develop empathy and compassion.
In 1966 Salem, Germany, one of Hahn’s former students, Jocelin Winthrop Young, and other principals discussed creating a permanent association of schools based on Hahn’s ideas. They decided to hold conferences to share thoughts and ideas. The first conference was held at a building in Gordonstoun, Scotland, in 1967.
In Scotland, a ‘square’ was associated with the administrative center of an estate, and the building in which the first conference was held was round. Hahn didn’t want his name on this new educational movement as he thought it would be restrictive, so they decided on Round Square after the first conference site.
As Round Square schools spread worldwide, they were not purely based on Hahn’s ideas, but on a commitment to shared ideals and objectives. This came when the world prized peace after World War 2, and globalization drastically improved communications.
Ideal 1: International understanding
The idea behind prioritizing international understanding is to help students tackle real-world issues by exposing them to ideas and concepts from different cultures and countries. It helps students see themselves in relation to their immediate environment and globally.
Students can develop respect for other cultures and recognize the need to preserve and celebrate them. It encourages sharing information, leading to respect, understanding, and empathy.
Through overseas student and teacher exchanges, Round Square learners can begin to see how dependence on a global economy directly affects our interconnectedness. Local students connect with international students through conferences as they trade ideas and inspiration on global issues.
International understanding is about embracing the similarities and differences between cultures and nationalities, and this helps students develop a lasting understanding and respect.
Ideal 2: Democracy
The ideals of democracy are a big part of life at Round Square schools. They value freedom of thought and speech and allow appropriate forms for students to express themselves, like debates and public speaking.
Round Square schools encourage positive community engagement through student-led, service-based projects. The principle of democracy explains that well-informed students care about their wider environment. For example, many students participated in the #SchoolStrike4Climate that urged schools and communities to take action against the climate crisis.
With the knowledge of civil rights, students have the opportunity for hands-on learning that develops empathy. A conference hosted by the Stiftung Louisenlund school in Germany discussed the Holocaust and examples of anti-semitism in modern Germany. This is not only a catalyst for action but an opportunity to develop the necessary social skills to actively participate as a global citizen.
Ideal 3: Environmental stewardship
Round Square schools are dedicated to creating active citizens, and environmental consciousness is integral to that. Students are encouraged to have an active interest and concern for the natural environment and take a hands-on approach in the classroom and out of it. Students are the guardians of the planet, and this principle encourages them to take practical action and make significant changes.
Christ’s College is a Round Square secondary school for boys in Christ Church, New Zealand. Their native trees for the Christchurch Green Spine initiative are a fantastic example of environmental stewardship. The area known as the ‘red zone’ in Christchurch is being rehabilitated after the 2010/2011 earthquakes. The environment committee at Christ’s College was responsible for germinating and potting seeds from native plant species. With 25 species in satellite nurseries, these plants were then used to rejuvenate the red zone.
Ideal 4: Adventure
Round Square schools encourage their students to take risks and step outside their comfort zones. Each student can define what this risk is within their personal limits. It could be physical challenges, academic performance, or developing new skills.
Through practical and experiential learning, students can test their boundaries and discover they are capable more than they realize. Because each student has their own limits, it creates an atmosphere of supportive celebration.
Woodleigh School is a Round Square school in Langwarrin, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, and they have a desert challenge annually for Grade 10 students in their first semester. It is a 7-day hike across the Hattah desert in Australia. Students have the opportunity to be self-sufficient and independent as they camp under the stars.
Although experienced professionals and teachers are nearby, students are left on their own for the most part. Before the trip, they participate in workshops on First Aid, navigation, nutrition, conflict resolution, and environmental awareness. Each morning, the groups decide on their route and schedule and walk for 6 to 10 hours daily.
Ideal 5: Leadership
Global citizenship requires leadership skills, and Round Square students have the opportunity to explore leadership concepts and styles. The school encourages student-led initiatives and activities to empower students to actively engage in developmental strategies that work for them. It helps students understand the responsibility of leadership through hands-on community projects and international school initiatives.
This principle emphasizes that good leaders act in service to others. Through experiential learning, Round Square students can practice strategic thinking and intuitive decision-making, which gives them self-confidence and self-awareness.
Collingwood School Vancouver, Canada, has a leadership institute that works with this principle. This Round Square conference is for students aged 12–14 years. This workshop focuses on improving confidence, identifying leadership styles, and developing an appreciation for different leadership methods. Through games, personality surveys, and practical elements like river crossings, the students have hands-on experience with what being a leader really means.
Ideal 6: Service
These principles have a common thread, which is service to others. Red Square students must engage with the local and broader community through voluntary service activities. This helps them develop empathy and self-awareness as they engage with their immediate and wider international community.
By actively being involved, students can see that responsible social action is based on a real understanding of a community’s issues. This allows students to learn in a real-world context and helps them develop a respect for cultural differences. Being a global citizen means being able to work collaboratively with others to make a difference.
The Scindia Kanya Vidyalaya’s SANKALP project involved making low-cost sanitary pads for needy women. For this project, the students researched and did surveys for 15 months before identifying the resources they would need and finding funding. This project not only helped women experiencing period poverty but was also a form of job creation.
12 'Discoveries' that underpin Round Square values
Through practical teaching experience, twelve ‘Discoveries’ have been developed from the 6 Round Square principles. These Discoveries are integrated into lesson planning, extracurricular activities, and non-formal assessments.
The 1st Discovery is Communication and why it’s important for students to understand themselves and others. Inquisitiveness is the 2nd Discovery, focusing on the pursuit of truth as students explore the world around them.
The 3rd Discovery is the Appreciation of Diversity and learning to value the importance of an inclusive society. Problem-solving is the 4th Discovery, teaching students about creative problem-solving to find the best possible outcome. The 5th Discovery is a Sense of Responsibility that encompasses moral, ethical, social, and civic duty. Commitment to Sustainability is the 6th Discovery, and it helps students understand how to manage their use of resources.
The 7th Discovery is Tenacity, and this encourages perseverance and how to learn from your mistakes. Courage is the 8th Discovery, about overcoming obstacles and facing your fears as you grow. Self-awareness is the 9th Discovery, which is about understanding your value, strengths, and weaknesses.
The 10th Discovery is Teamwork and the importance of working in collaboration for a common goal. Inventiveness and Compassion are the 11th and 12th Discoveries, and this is about being creative, curious, and innovative while developing empathy for other people’s situations.
Benefits and drawbacks of Round Square schools
A Round Square school’s principles aim to develop students who have confidence and are interested in connecting with the world around them. This approach to education offers students opportunities for big-picture thinking and the development of leadership skills.
Exposing students to other cultures, beliefs, and ideas encourages cultural sensitivity, respect, and acceptance. The Round Square educational philosophy attempts to shape a child’s character and intellect. It aims to empower students and challenges them to make a difference in the local community and internationally. The world is more interconnected than we realize, and raising a generation of global citizens who are brave and bold in the face of adversity is what Round Square strives for.
A drawback to these schools is that they can be expensive. They use technology and host international conferences. This can be unattainable for families only able to pay tuition.
Case Study: Roedean School
Roedean School is a Round Square school based in Johannesburg, South Africa. This all-girl school was founded in 1903 and has been upholding the Round Square principles ever since.
Roedean engages with the Climate Action Project and works with its partners in numeracy and literacy outreach programs in the local community. Through the Siyakhana Food Garden cooperative, Roedean students learn what it takes to collaborate with the community to meet their needs. The Roedean community also contributes donations that result in a biweekly delivery of vegetable boxes to the local community, effectively teaching the students how wealth, service, and community responsibility are linked.
The school’s postcard on ‘Ubuntu: What’s in a Name’ brought together 140 delegates from schools worldwide. The postcard was about sharing aspects of culture to discover elements of common humanity. It was an exciting activity that allowed students to learn about new cultures while also seeing how connected cultures and experiences could be.
